Xerse at Theater an der Wien

By 1654, premiered in Venetian Teatro SS Giovanni e Paolo Francesco Cavalli opera Xerse should achieve one of his biggest successes. During his lifetime, the play alone in Italy underwent at least nine productions. Another, particularly spectacular occasion was the Paris celebrations for the wedding of Louis XIV and Maria Theresa of Spain 1660, the Xerse-Performance involuntarily came into existence here. The rehearsal of the actual wedding opera L'Ercole Amante, the Cavalli invited by Cardinal Mazarin had composed for the occasion, was delayed due to the failure to timely completion of the new theater in the Tuileries so much so that one finally to an already played and manageable from a technical point Opera, just Xerse, fell back. That was at least insofar a happy substitute when it comes to marriage here in the highest circles: The Persian king Xerse and his brother Arsamene both compete for the hand of Romilda, the daughter of Prince abydischen Ariodate. Romilda are Arsamene strong preference for what Xerse but does not discourage you demand for yourself by looking at her hand as part of an alliance with Ariodate. After numerous confusions and entanglements Romilda and Arsamene may end up eventually marry, but also Xerse will go not empty